The Last Warrior Queen

Chapter 35

I decided to go straight to the throne room. I wasn’t hungry and I had nothing else to do. I sat on the queen’s throne and fiddled with my necklace, trying to make plans in my head. Once we went to war, we wouldn’t be here in the castle anyways and we would for sure have our own separate tents on the battle field. That would really solve everything. And then if everything goes to plan I’ll take back my kingdom and just live there forever. Yes, that would work out perfectly. I’ll be queen in name for the Northern Kingdom and Halvor can have Gala as his consort. Or if he does let me have my own room I can just run away, which would probably work out even better for everyone.

I was so lost in my thoughts I had no idea how much time had passed. The large doors to the throne room suddenly opened and Halvor appeared. He was dressed in a red tunic with silver and gold embroidery, which made him look powerful. He really was rather dashing today. “What are you doing?” He asked. I quickly dropped my necklace and stood up. “I was waiting.”

“You know we are supposed to enter after everyone right?” He said. I nodded and stepped down and walked across the room towards him.

“Is there some place you usually wait then?” I asked, keeping my tone cool and even.

“Did you have breakfast?” He asked. “Yes” I lied.

“When? I didn’t see you in the dining hall.”

“When you were sleeping early this morning.” I looked away and saw Ann walking down the hall. I rushed over to her and gave her a hug. She whispered in my ear “Are you alright?” I shook my head no, but didn’t say anything. She nodded, knowing that I couldn’t talk to her now. I pulled away and turned towards Eric. He bowed and addressed me. “It’s good to see you Eric, how have you been?”

We made idle chit chat as the throne room filled up with people. I glanced back down the hallway and saw that Halvor had disappeared somewhere. Eventually Eric pulled Ann away and said they needed to go into the throne room with everyone else. I nodded and Ann gave my hand an extra squeeze before she left with Eric. As the last nobles entered, Halvor was still nowhere to be found. I looked around to see if I could spot where he had gone, but I didn’t see him anywhere. Suddenly the doors opened in front of me. The nobles all looked surprised to see me standing there alone.

Suddenly Halvor appeared by my side and Gala was right behind him. He offered his arm to me and I clenched my jaw, noting that Gala would be entering with us too, like a mother hen looking after her chick. After a long pause I finally placed my hand on his arm and we walked down the aisle to the thrones. I took my seat on my throne, but Halvor remained standing. Gala positioned herself at the foot of Halvor’s throne.

Halvor made the announcement of my heritage and that we would be going to war with Inhar. Everyone was shocked and just stared at us. Many had worried looks on their faces and the uncomfortable silence was deafening.

I stood up abruptly. “I know that this comes as a shock to everyone. I also was shocked when I recently learned the truth about my birth. But I can assure you that I think of myself as a Queen of the Northern Kingdom, and I will fight for each and every one of you fiercely until my last breath” I said with conviction.

I was met with cheers and soon a chant of “Queen Sylvia” broke out. I nodded to everyone and started to make my way out of the throne room. Gala reached out and caught my arm. “Spoken like a true queen” she murmured in my ear. I jerked my arm away, turning and exiting the throne room.

Halvor followed quickly behind me. As I left the throne room I glanced back at him and saw Gala following right behind him. I could tolerate her as a mistress, but at this point she was trying to take my place in every way. There is nothing for me here.

Halvor opened his mouth like he wanted to say something, but Gala spoke first. “We should go to the war room and finalize our plans.” Halvor turned and nodded as people began to file out of the throne room. I nodded and stepped aside to wait for Ann.

“You need to come too” Gala said as she turned to me.

“I will wait for Ann first” I replied. Gala nodded and said “Don’t take too long, we have much to discuss.”

I nodded, thinking that she could wait all day for all I care. She turned and walked to the war room with Halvor. People began to make their way to the banquet hall where food was provided. Eventually I saw Ann’s dark red hair as she walked out arm in arm with Eric. Gunnar and Hilda were with them too.

I walked up to Ann and she said they were on their way to the banquet hall. Gunnar said that he needed to go to the war room. “Yes, I’m supposed to go there too” I replied, “but I think I’ll have something to eat first.”

Gunnar tilted his head at my response and then said “In that case I’ll join you.” We walked together to the banquet hall. Eric and Ann were chatting happily just ahead of Gunnar, Hilda and I. Hilda patted my arm and asked “How is married life?”

I pursed my lips and looked at the ground. Hilda chuckled and said “That bad? Well don’t worry, King Halvor is a good man.” I nodded and kept walking. We entered the banquet hall together and instead of going to sit at my place at the head table, I sat at one of the many long tables with my friends. Food was quickly brought out to us and I quickly began devouring it.

Gunnar cleared his throat and said “You know, the north is very different from the south. Here we are taught that strength in battle is prized above all else. It is important for the survival of the kingdom. The sons and daughters of nobles have even more pressure on them, the son of a king has the most. We face many challenges in our youth during our training and that determines our standing within society, even the son of the king must endure it to maintain his place as future king.”

I looked up at Eric, who nodded in agreement and said “I think King Halvor had it more difficult than most, with what happened between his parents.”

Gunnar nodded in agreement and continued, “His mother was the Queen consort, not the Queen wife. The old king loved a woman who was beautiful and elegant, but had no talent for fighting. In order to maintain his place as king he was forced to take Halvor’s mother as a consort. The woman the old king loved eventually died in childbirth and the old king resented Halvor and his mother simply for living. Halvor’s mother was often depressed and Halvor grew up very much alone.” I sighed thinking about Halvor as a young boy being forced to fight for his place and a father who didn’t love him.

Eric continued “King Halvor didn’t even want to marry or take a consort. He saw the turmoil it caused in his youth and he didn’t want that. Gala took over a year to convince him to take a bride at all.” I clenched my jaw at the mention of Gala. “Luckily he got you for a wife” Eric happily said. I gave him a weak smile and looked over at Gunnar.

“Well, shall we head to the war room?” I asked him. Gunnar nodded and we said our goodbyes. Gunnar escorted me out of the banquet hall as everyone stood as I left.

When Gunnar opened the door to the war room I could see everyone sitting around the large table. Halvor bolted to his feet and yelled “What took you so long? We’ve been waiting on you. Do you think you can just do as you please?”